Folding table



(No Model.)

A. L. HINES.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 344,834. Patented July 6, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcln.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,83 dated July 6, 1886.

Application filed March 31,1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. HINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte,in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in folding tables; and it consists of the peculiar and novel construction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved table which shall fold very compactly fer storage or transportation, and which can be very easily and readily adjusted for use or folded; to provide means for holding the table-top at any desired inclination or adjustment, and which is especially adapted for use by artists, draftsinen, and others; to provide means for preventing the books or other articles on the table-top from falling off when the top is inclined, and which is adapted to be adjusted or folded so as to lie flush with the top, and to provide an improved table which shall be very simple, strong, and durable in construction,and cheap and inexpensive of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan View of my improved table in its folded position. Fig. 2is an inverted perspective view of the table in its unfolded position. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse central sectional view through the device in the position shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view in transverse section of a portion of the table top and the adjusting-strip I, showing one of the transverse slots therein and the headed guide-pin thereof, the dotted lines illustrating the position of the strip when it is adjusted above the upper edge of the top to retain books or other articles thereon. Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of the parts shown in Fig. a.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures, A designates the top of my improved folding table, which is of any desired or preferred form and size, and which is provided at or near its ends, on the under face thereof, with battens B.

Serial No.197,311. (No model.)

0 designates adjusting or holding blocks, which are arranged to bear against the inner faces of the battens. One of these blocks 0 is provided at each end of the table and .for each of the battens, and they are pivoted at one end to the middle of the battens, as at a, so that the free ends thereof can be moved or adjusted to either of the side edges of the top A, or in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

D designates supportingblocks, which are rigidly secured to the top A, near one edge thereof, and adjacent one end of the battens, within the latter.

E F designate the foldable legs of the table, which are arranged in pairs at each end thereof. The legs of each pair are pivoted together at their middle, as at c, and the free upper ends of the legs E are pivoted to the free ends of the pivoted adj ustingblocks O, as at 6, while the free upper ends of the legs F are pivoted directly to the supporting-blocks D, as atf. The legs E are connected together and braced by tie rods or bars E, which are secured on the opposite facesthereof, and the legs F are connected by a tie-bar, F, and have the lateral inclined braces F secured thereto and to said bar, as clearly shown. A j

The outer faces of the pivoted adjustingblocks are provided with a series of apertures, 9, that are arranged in the are of a circle concentric with the pivot of the blocks 0, and each of the battens B have hooks G pivoted thereto, as at g, and provided with nibs that are adapted to enter the apertures g and hold the top at any desired angle or inclination; but I do not desire to limit myself to this particular form of fastening device, as I am aware that others can be substituted therefor without departing from the principle of my invention.

Near their pivoted ends the holding or adj usting blocks G are provided with notches or apertures h, so that the nib g of the pivoted hooks can enter the sameto retain the adjustable top at a very steep incline or angle, for artists, &c., and the pivoted hooks are confined in place and limited in their movements by keepers or staples h,secured to and carried by the battens.

I designates a retaining-strip that is fitted to one of the side edges of the table-top,and projects above the edges thereof, to retain the books and other articles in place when the top ICC is adjusted at an incline or angle, and this strip I eled, and the ends are likewise beveled, and" near its ends the strip is transversely slotted, as at i.

J designates headed retaining-pins, which are secured in one edge of the top and pass through the slots in the retaining-strip to hold and permanently attach the same to the top, while at the same time it can .be easily and readily adjusted above the plane of the top or flushed therewith; and when the retaining strip is adjusted above the edge of the top it is held immovably in place by means of'pivoted blocks J, that are carried by the table top.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the table is folded, the upper ends of the legs and the free ends of the adj ustingblocks lie between and flush with the battens and the rigid blocks D, and the legs bear against the top and project beyond the latter at one end. To unfold the table, the legs are first turned on their pivots by hand to the opposite position to that shown in Fig. 1, or adjusted to bring their opposite or lower edges uppermost, and the free ends of the legs E are forced outwardly away from the legs F, and both legs are simultaneously turned to an up- 1 right position, the adjustment of the legs E forcing the ends of the adjusting-blocks that are connected thereto into an upright position, whereby the blocks will be turned on their pivots to the opposite ends of the battens or top edge, and the legs will be unfolded so, as to cross each other, and thus firnilyand rigidly secure or support the top in place. \Vhen the blocks bear fiat against the top and the table is unfolded,the top is held in a horizontal position, and if it is desired to adjust the same at an angle or inclination, the edge ofthe top opposite to the retaining-strip is elevated and the hooks forced into the desired aperture g or h. It will thus be seen that I provide a table which can be very easily and quickly adjusted or folded, that the parts fold very compactly for shipment or storage, that the 5 to the top, and the other" pair carrying a tiebar that slides in the slots of the battens; but such is not my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In afolding table, the combination of a top having the battens, the stationary blocks carried by the top and arranged near one edge thereof and within the battens, the swinging blocks pivoted to the battens and having the aperturesg, a pair of legs pivoted to the free ends of the swinging blocks, another pair of blocks pivoted to the stationary blocks and to the fellow legs, and a locking device carried by the battens and adapted to enter one of the apertures g of the swinging block, to main: tain the top in an inclined position, as set forth.

2. In a folding table, the combination of a top carrying the battens, the stationary blocks secured to the top,the swinging block G, pivoted at one end to the battens and having a notch, h, in one of its edges, near the pivoted end,the legs E F, pivoted together and to the stationary and swinging blocks, and a pivoted locking-arm carried by a batten and adapted to engage with the notch h of the swinging block,to maintain the top in an inclined position, as set forth.

ANDREW L. HINES.

Witnesses:

DANIEL B. GREEN, GUsTIN G. HIcKMAN. 

